Hide Sorting Control for Traceable Customer-Specific Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tanning processes lack traceability of information, leading to inconsistent hide quality, inefficiencies, and increased costs due to manual sorting and packaging based on incomplete information, and inflexibility in meeting customer specifications.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a tanning control system that records and associates unique identifiers with machinery and chemical processes, allowing for enhanced traceability and automated sorting, folding, and packaging based on batch and customer-specific characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional manual sorting and packaging processes are used, then labor flexibility is maintained, but processing efficiency is low and traceability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical sorting and packaging operations with an automated system that uses imaging devices, computers, and robotic mechanisms to detect hide characteristics, determine sorting criteria, and execute packaging actions, thereby improving productivity while managing complexity through automation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses imaging devices to create visual copies or representations of hide characteristics, which are then processed by computer systems to determine sorting and packaging actions, enabling automated decision-making without direct human intervention and improving processing efficiency
2Loss of information
If conventional packaging processes are used, then packaging simplicity is maintained, but information utilization is incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback loop where imaging devices continuously capture hide characteristics, the computer system processes this information to determine sorting and packaging criteria, and the system adjusts packaging actions based on the analyzed data, ensuring complete information utilization while maintaining operational simplicity through automated control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary detection and analysis of hide characteristics using imaging devices and computer processing before the actual packaging action, allowing the system to pre-determine sorting and packaging criteria based on complete information, thereby improving information utilization without complicating the final packaging operation
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional single packaging process is used, then process simplicity is maintained, but customer specification flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic packaging system where the computer control system can adjust packaging criteria, folding patterns, and sorting decisions in real-time based on detected hide characteristics and customer specifications, allowing the same system to adapt to different customer requirements without requiring multiple dedicated packaging lines
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs a universal packaging system that can handle multiple customer specifications and hide types through a single integrated platform, where the computer control system manages different packaging algorithms and the robotic mechanisms can execute various folding and packaging patterns, thereby achieving flexibility without proportionally increasing complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for sorting hides are provided. In particular, one or more embodiments comprise a tanning control system that enhances the traceability of hides by capturing and utilizing data related to the unloading, tanning, sorting, and packaging of hides. Furthermore, one or more embodiments enable the tanning control system to improve efficiency by sorting hides based, at least in part, on data generated during prior tanning processes. Additionally, one or more embodiments facilitate the tanning control system in customizing the sorting and packaging of hides based, at least in part, on one or more hide characteristics and/or customer specifications.